1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

shutdown

noun

ˈshət-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce shutdown (audio)
Definition of shutdownnext
as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shutdown The House voted to pass a short-term funding bill and avert a government shutdown at the end of September. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026 The temporary shutdown comes as Tropical Storm Marie is expected to develop into a hurricane, producing a high chance of waves, rip currents and some light rain over the Labor Day weekend. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The shutdown comes days after DLLS Sports reported that the Dallas Stars plan to move broadcasts from Victory+ to Amazon Prime Video. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 Democrats withheld their votes first to pressure Republicans to extend expiring subsidies for health insurance premiums, prompting a 43-day shutdown that ended in November. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shutdown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutdown
  1. cessation
  2. halt
  3. ending
  4. closure
  5. end
  6. close
  7. conclusion
Noun
  • Those commitments should be included in a framework agreement, signed by all sides, which outlines the core elements of an eventual peace and enables a cessation of hostilities.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Texas law defines brain death as the irreversible cessation of brain function.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cessation
Noun
  • California’s next governor will determine whether to keep or toss Gavin Newsom’s halt on executions.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The halt in strikes began at midnight on Friday into Saturday and will last for the duration of the weekend of diplomacy.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of halt
Noun
  • At a low point, the twist ending of Remember Me was that 9/11 killed Robert Pattinson.
    — Darren Franich, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • This one doesn’t have quite as happy of an ending, especially for one of the women involved.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • The incident forced the closure of one of the nation's busiest airports.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Waves of 6 to 10 feet, dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding prompt rescues and beach lot closures through midweek.
    — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of closure
Noun
  • But Vicki’s insufferable attitude is nothing compared to Lisa’s selfishness by the end of the episode.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Underwood went 12-of-22 passing for 170 yards and gifted Western Michigan 3 points at the end of the first half.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of end
Noun
  • Below that on a weekly close and the buyers who showed up for that earnings move have left the building.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Weekend meteorologist Molly Bernard, WISN-TV (Channel 12) Molly Bernard announced at the beginning of July that her time with WISN was coming to a close.
    — Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of close
Noun
  • That didn’t stop more controversy from falling on the conference’s doorstep Saturday night, when one more play produced a conclusion that will likely be talked about for decades.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • That’s the conclusion the two seem to have come to, especially after the fireman Rosie has her current hopes pinned on asks her out to a fancy dinner date, only to stand her up.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of conclusion

Browse Nearby Words

shut
shutdown
shutdowns
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shutdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutdown. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All